New talent and unknown locals
with different jerseys were
always lying in wait, on starting
lines from Greensboro,N.C., to
Fitchburg, Mass. Cyclists who
traveled the Eastern Seaboard
from Florida to Quebec raced
where the strawberries were
always ripe while following the
robins north.
They knew what jerseys to look
out for in each town and city
they raided for prizes and cash.
These road warriors would often
pool their winnings, even if they
were on different teams, which
helped offset the expense of
staying on the circuit. Riders
such as David Ware, Rudy Sroka,
Steve Tilford, and Scott Dickson
had saved money working jobs
in the off-season just so they
could go wherever the racing took
them, while trying to live off the
proceeds.
It was a hand-to-mouth existence
that created an unspoken bond
among the riders. Cash prize lists
were rare, but when a cash preem
was announced, that meant ready
money for gas in the tank to the
next race. The out-of-town racers
would glance at one another and
perhaps wink or nod to set up
their combo for the cash that the
locals didn’t need. They had to
duke it out with other gypsies like
the Canadian riders from Quebec
and Ontario who needed the
same early-season miles and prize
money.
